Shoe pressure pad



May 11, 1943. D. LEVY Em.- "2,319,14

SHOE PRESSURE PAD Filed March 13, 1941 g s t she t 1 FIG. 1.

INVENTORE D avid L EVTH D avid Fr-ie dman ATTORNEYS.

y 1943- D. LEVY ETAL 2,319,143

' snbE PRESSURE PAD Filed March 13, 1941 heets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS D avidLElH I] avid Friedman ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 11, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE SHOE PRESSURE PADDavid Levy and David Friedman, Chicago, I ll.

Application March 13, 1941, Serial No. 383,214

' 6Claims. roles-71) The invention relates to an improved method andmeans for relieving shoe pressure upon affected foot areas.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of an improved padconstruction for;

relieving shoe'pressure upon corns, bunions, etc.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improvedmethod for accurately locating a shoe pressure relief pad, for thepurpose of relieving pressure upon corns, bunionsetc.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved shoepressure relief pad having means to enable it to be accurately locatedwithin a shoe and with relation to a definiteportion of the individualsfoot.

A further object of this invention is the pro-' vision of improved meansadapted to be attached permanently to an individuals shoe for relievingshoe pressure upon certain affected foot areas.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved shoepressure relief pad and a removable indicator portion therefor.

Other chests and advantages of thisinvention will be apparent during thecourse of the following detailed description.

In the accompanyin drawings forming a part of this specification, and.wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views,

Figure-1 is a plan view of a preferred form of the shoe pad orappliance.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view I taken substantially onthe line 2-2 of Figure 1. Figures 3 and 4 are modified forms of theimproved shoe pad.

Figure 5 is a view showing in dotted lines the manner in which the shoepad may be placed in a shoe with relation to a corn upon an individualslittle toe.

Figures 6, '7, '8 and 9 designate the method employed for theapplication of the improved appliance within the shoe.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration are shownpreferred and modified forms of the invention, the letter A maygenerally designate theimproved shoe pad or appliance, which includes apad portion proper B and an indicator or position locator C.

There are many appliances and methods available for the relief of foottroubles, such as corns and bunions. For the most part they afford onlytemporary relief. That is true both insofar as profession and hometreatments are concerned. i

Generally, after reduction in the size of the excrescent, whether it bea corn or bunion, by surgical means or by medication and. padding, of

the affected area, the foot sufferer experiences pliance within the shoeso as to position the pad Where it will scientifically relieve shoepressure upon the affected portion of the foot.

Specifically referring to the improved appliance A, the pad portion Bmay be formed of some yieldable material, such as sponge or moldedrubber, felt, cork, or any other material which 'will hold its shape andissum ciently yieldable to give pressure relief of the shoe upon thefoot of the wearer, and. at the same time maintain a definite form. Inthe preferred construction, the

pad"B is elongated, includinga forward portion designated at ID in thedrawingwhich gradually increases in thickness from its forward edge H toa location about 2/ of the way back, where it is of maximum thickness,as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. The rear end of the pad B issemicircular in shape; The side and rear marginal edges [2 of the padare tapered divergently downward from the foot facing surface of thepad, and the shoe attaching side l3 of the pad B is fiat. This flat sideof the pad is adapted 'to be applied against the inside of the shoe, andthe tapered edges I2 enablethe foot of the wearer to be readily slippedinto the shoe in a comfortable manner, and without liability ofdislodging the appliance. The entire foot facing surface of the pad B,including the bevelled edges l2 and the outer surface is provided with acovering l5 of some material which will give little frictionalopposition to the stocking of the wearer. We prefor to provide aDyroxylin covered fabric, although any other suitable flexible materialhaving a sized or gloss or other frictionless surface maybe substituted.q

A fiat surface I3 of the pad"B is provided 'with an' adhesive coating20, preferably of rubber cement, which is normally protected by aremovable covering of some material, designated at 2|, such as Hollandcloth; This'removable covering 2| is provided to protect the adhesiveuntil the time that it is necessary to apply the pad in the shoe. Thecover 2|, in order to faci1 itate its removal, may be split intosections Zla and 2 lb, as shown in Figure 2, each of which is providedwith outturned tab portions 2 lc to facilitate removal.

The indicator C may or may not be of the same material as the pad B. Itis relatively thin or shallow in comparison to pad portion B, and isconnected at a reduced section with the pad proper B. This constitutes atear line, since it is preferred to have the indicator C removed afterit has served its function of properly locating the pad B in the shoe.Asshown in the drawings, the indicator C includes a body portion 30,which may have an opening 3| therein to face the portion on the shoeopposite the affected foot area. This portion is attached by means of areduced neck 33 with the pad'proper B. In Figure 1- the body'portion'30is shown as round; Figure 3'shows the body portion 30as square, andFigure 4 shows it as oval. The shape of this portion makes littledifference. It is preferred,,however, to have it relatively thin andflexible, and suitably apertured'so as to enable its location upon theshoe. In lieu of an aperture a recess may be provided; although the spotindicator may take various shapes and con structions.

Referring to the application of the improved shoe pad within the shoe ofa; wearer, the individual applies the shoe,- as indicated'in Figure 6,upon his foot and with a pencil indicates upon the outside of the shoe acircular or'other mark 40 which designates the portion of the shoeoverlying the corn or bunion. The operator next removes theadhesiveprotecting covering 2| from the pad portion B, so as to expose theadhesive 20.

Referring to Figure '7, the operator next takes the pad in his hand withthe adhesive surface uppermost, and with the" indicator portion C placedupon the tip of a finger, moves hishand into the shoe. At the same timea finger of the other hand of the wearer is placed over the indicationmark 40 and pressed firmly thereon so as to produce a bulge inside ofthe shoe. With the hand hearing I the pad, the operator then places thefinger of that hand under the indicator opening or recess 3| and movesthis indicator until the opening 3i receives the bulged in portion ofthe shoe at the mark 40; the pad- 13 is then pressed into place and theadhesive engaged against the shoe.

Figure 8 shows they pad inposition in the shoe for relief of shoepressure against thecorn of the wearers little toe. Note that the padportion B can be adjusted into any of several positions, rearwardly ofthe indicator, in order to enable most accurate positioning.

In Figure 9 the pad A has been applied to relieve bunion pressure.

After application of the pad portion B has been made, the indicator Cmay be tornaway from the inside of the shoe along the weakened tear line25.

The pad and its indicator are shown in Figure 5, in dotted position inthe shoe of a wearer with reference to a com upon the little toe of awearer's foot. It is noted in this relation that the pad portion Bdoes'not overlie the affected area but is scientifically located so asto push the shoe away from the wearers foot. Relief of shoe pressure isgiven in the area of the foot along the proximal phalanx 5| and even asfar back as the shaft of the metatarsal 52.

It is thus seen that the improved appliance pad portion B exerts agentle push against the bone structure behind the particular growth orexorescent from which shoe pressure and friction is to be removed, andof course, the shoe pressure is thus eliminated.

The improved pad A is adapted to be used in shoes wherever there is anaffected foot area upon which the shoe normally presses. It is to beused in connection with corns upon any of the toes and also bunions,etc. It is so designed as to be interchangeable, so that there are norights and lefts.

As can be seen from the foregoing, the improved pad is quite simple innature, yet it may be accurately and efficiently located within a shoewithout the necessity of expert services. The device can be manufacturedfor a relatively low cost and it affords permanent relief.

Various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement; of parts of theimproved appliance, and various departures from the steps of applyingthe improved pad, may be made to the forms of invention herein shown anddescribed, without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the claims.

We claim:

1. As an article of manufacture, an orthopedic pad for relief of shoepressure upon affected foot areas comprising a pad portion proper, andan indicator portion extended therefrom for application against thatportion of the shoe which overlies directly the affected foot areawhereby to properly position the pad portion proper for the scientificrelief of pressure fromthe affected foot area, said indicator portionbeing so connected to the pad portion proper as to be readily removabletherefrom after it has served its purpose in locating the pad in properposition within the shoe.

2. As an article of manufacture, an orthopedic pad for relief of shoepressure upon affected foot areas comprising a pad portion proper, andan indicator portion extendedtherefrom for application against thatportion of the shoe which overlies directly the affected footareawhereby to properly position the pad portion proper for thescientific relief of pressure from the affected foot area, said padportion proper and indicator being connected at a weakened juncturewhich will enable the indicator portion to'be detached after the padportion proper is located properly within the shoe.

3. As an article of manufacture, an orthopedic pad for relief of shoepressure upon affected foot areas comprising a pad portion proper, anindicator portion extended therefrom for application against thatportion of the shoe which overlies directly the affected foot areawhereby to properly position the pad portion proper for the scientificrelief of pressure from the affected foot area, said pad portion properand indicator being connected at a weakened juncture which will enablethe indicator portion to be detached after the pad portion proper islocated properly within the shoe, and means on the pad portion properfor aflixing the pad portion proper within and upon the shoe.

4. As an article of manufacture, an appliance to be attached to a shoefor the purpose of relieving shoe pressure upon affected foot areascomprising a yieldable pad portion proper having means for affixing itupon the inside of and to a shoe, means for properly locating the pad inthe shoe with reference to that location of the shoe normally overlyingthe affected foot area, said last mentioned means-being connected withthe pad portion proper ,forl'facile detachment with respect theretoandhaving a spot indicating opening therein.

5. As an article of manufacture, an appliance for relieving shoepressure comprising a yieldable pad portion of elongated formationtapering in thickness from one end to the other, an adhesive upon onesurface of the pad portion proper, means normally protecting saidadhesive until it is desired to use the pad, and an indicator portionextending outwardly from and normally attached to the pad portionproper, said last mentioned portion having an opening therein.

6. As an article of manufacture, an appliance for relieving shoepressure comprising a yieldable pad portion of elongated formationtapering in thickness from one end to theiother, an adhesive upon onesurface of the pad portion proper, means normally protecting siaidadhesive until it is desired to use the pad, aii indicator portionextending outwardly from andggnormally attached to the pad portionproper, said last mentioned portion having an opening therein, andhaving a weakened tear line connectioni with the pad portion properwhich enables the; ready detachment of the indicator portion from thepad portion proper.

DAVID LEVY. DAVID FRIEDMAN.

